1Department of General Medicine, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
2Department of Orthodontics, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
3Meenakshi College of Nursing, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
4Meenakshi College of Allied Health Sciences, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
5Meenakshi College of Nursing, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
6Meenakshi College of Physiotherapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research
Background: Imaging guidance is an important device to locate in the atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation since it can ensure a high level of access in the transseptal, optimum lesion, and coverage of the arrhythmias. The two most widely applied modes of echocardiography are the intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) and the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) but the virtue of these modalities is an aspect that ought to be considered when the procedures are being planned.
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare ICE and TEE guidance during AF ablation in terms of procedural safety, efficiency, the quality of imaging, and clinical outcomes.
Method: A systematic review of the studies assessing ICE- and TEE-guided ablation of the AF that were published in recent years was made. The metrics of the data were imaging resolution, the capacity to direct transseptal puncture, anesthesia, complication rates, involved fluoroscopy, duration, and patient tolerance during the procedure.
Results: The results of numerous studies indicate that these two methods of imaging can offer sufficient visualization of safe AF ablation with comparable acute success rates and complication profiles. ICE provides better operator control, less general anesthesia requirements, and better real time atrial hierarchy visualization. TEE still is beneficial in high-quality evaluation of the thrombus but involves the use of sedation and an extra operator and complicates the procedure.
Conclusion: ICE and TEE are suitable in guidance of ablation in the AF. ICE has the potential to enhance the efficiency of workflow and the comfort of patients, whereas TEE still retains the high accuracy of the diagnostic results. Separate modality selection process is hereby to be made depending on institutional experience, patient traits and resource accessibility.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation ablation, ICE, TEE, left atrial visualization, radiation reduction
How to cite this article: Jayannan, Kumar K, Dhanraj FM, Ramnath V, Jayabharathi B, Balamurugan N. Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Comparing Intracardiac vs Transesophageal Echocardiography Guidance. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 108-113; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.15
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None